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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Parachute \Par"a*chute\ (p[a^]r"[.a]*sh[=oo]t or
p[a^]r"[.a]*sh[udd]t), n. [F., fr. parer to ward off, guard
chute a fall. See {Parry}, and {Chute}, {Chance}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A device made of a piece of cloth, usually silk, attached
to multiple chords fastened to a harness; when attached to
a person or object falling through the air, it opens from
a folded configuration into an umbrella-shaped form, thus
slowing the rate of descent so that a safe descent and
landing may be made through the air from an airplane,
balloon, or other high point. It is commonly used for
descending to the ground from a flying airplane, as for
military operations (as of airborne troops) or in an
emergency, or for sport. In the case of use as a sport,
the descent from an airplane by parachute is called {sky
diving}. Some older versions of parachute were more rigid,
and were shaped somewhat in the form of an umbrella.

2. (Zool.) A web or fold of skin which extends between the
legs of certain mammals, as the flying squirrels, colugo,
and phalangister.
[1913 Webster]


parachute \par"a*chute\, v. i.
TO descend to th ground from an airplane or other high place
using a parachute; as, when the plane stalled, he parachuted
safely to the ground.
[PJC]

{golden parachute} a generous set of financial benefits,
including severance pay, provided by contract to a
high-level corporate employee in the event s/he is
dismissed or his/her job is lost in a corporate takeover
or merger; also, the contract providing for such benefits.


{drogue parachute} a small parachute that is first released
and opened in order to more reliably deploy a larger
parachute. Also called {drogue}.
[PJC] parachuter